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Meet Meki Durakovic: The Hospitality Force Behind Boston’s Culinary Hotspots

22 Apr

Interview with Meki Durakovic, a Visionary Restaurant Owner by Caitlin Dolegowski, Marketing Manager, LSN

Meki Durakovic CaitiCaitlin Dolegowski

For life science professionals attending RESI and Bio in June, Boston offers more than innovation—it offers unforgettable hospitality. One of the city’s driving forces behind that experience is Meki Durakovic, a restaurateur whose journey from Europe to Boston has transformed the local dining scene.

Meki got his start running his family’s restaurant at 19 and quickly became known for hosting community events and building customer loyalty. After gaining global experience in Germany, he moved to Boston in 1996, working his way through every level of the hospitality business—from the kitchen to management—ultimately joining the influential Lyons Group.

Today, Meki is the co-owner of some of Boston’s most dynamic venues: Fin Point Oyster Bar & Grille, Tradesman Coffee, Lily’s, Amber Road, Urban Wild, One Beacon, and more. His venues mix warm hospitality, locally sourced menus, and inviting atmospheres perfect for both after-hours business gatherings and casual networking.

As the life sciences world converges on Boston this June, Meki’s restaurants offer more than just meals—they offer a taste of the city’s spirit. Make sure to experience his take on Boston hospitality while you’re in town.

Caitlin Dolegowski (CD): Could you tell us about your Restaurant Group and the several standout restaurants in Boston? Can you describe each one and what makes it unique?

 Meki Durakovic (MD):

  • Tradesman – Best Coffee Shop in Boston with unique pastries & specialty croissants, fresh sandwiches and more. We have Tradesman locations on Broad Street and Federal Street in the financial district as well as in Charlestown. (50 Hood Park Dr. Charlestown, MA )
  • Amber Road – Our newest venue which boasts an open-kitchen, open air concept and patio and serves refined global-inspired New England cuisine, craft cocktails, and an extensive wine list. We recommend this space for elevated full private buyouts for events up to 180 guests. (100 Federal St, Boston, MA)
  • Fin Point – The first restaurant opened by our group that has become the place to be in Boston’s downtown Financial District. Here we host everything from corporate lunches and impressive cocktail receptions to weddings, full corporate buyouts for 200 guests and more. The sophisticated dining space features a raw bar and high-end seafood dishes with global influences. (89 Broad St, Boston, MA)
  • Urban Wild – Boston’s newest entertainment destination features high-tech bowling like you’ve never seen, indoor and outdoor patios with games, and a giant beer garden covered in custom artwork for a true experience. The venue holds up to 600 guests and is located in Charlestown’s quickly growing Hood Park Neighborhood. (100 Hood Park Dr, Boston, MA)

CD: For visitors coming to Boston for RESI and the Bio convention in June, which of your restaurants would you recommend for a great dining experience?

MD: All of the above!

CD: Could you tell me what guests should know about making reservations at your restaurants? Do you recommend booking in advance, and how far out should they plan?

MD: Reservations can be made online on Open Table or by calling directly. Reservations for bowling at Urban Wild can be made 7 days in advance on our website. For events, email our Director of Events, Katie Lofstrom, at events@mnmrestaurantgroup.com

CD: For those looking to take a meeting over a meal, which of your restaurants provides the best setting for a business lunch or dinner?

MD: Fin Point has a fully private dining room perfect for those more private, important meetings and occasions. The room seats up to 20.

CD: What would you advise for those seeking an event where they book a space for a networking event, or want to book the whole bar or restaurant? Please describe your menus, cuisines, and creative dishes. What are some must-try items for first-time guests?

MD: Any of our venues are perfect for hosting full private buyouts. We make the planning process easy!

CD: If RESI attendees seek a spot to gather with colleagues after the conference, do any of your restaurants have bar seating, lounge areas, or late-night options?

MD: All of our venues have bar & lounges, perfect for late-night or mingling after work or after dinner!

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MOWOOT Wins RESI EUROPE 2025 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC)

22 Apr

Interview with Dr. Markus Wilhelms, CEO & Co-founder by Greg Mannix, VP, EMEA Business Development, LSN

Dr. Markus Wilhelms Greg Mannix

Following their first-place win at the RESI Europe 2025 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, Dr. Markus Wilhelms, CEO and Co-founder of MOWOOT, discusses their technology, fundraising plans, and what lies ahead for the company.

Greg Mannix (GM): What inspired the development of MOWOOT’s technology, and what unmet need are you addressing?

Markus Wilhelms (MW): Bowel dysfunctions and intestinal transit disorders like chronic constipation affect up to a quarter of the population, often caused by faulty colonic movement patterns. Current treatments are pharmaceutical or invasive and focus on managing symptoms, not addressing the root cause. Our ‘Intermittent Colonic Exoperistalsis’ technology, developed in collaboration with one of Europe’s leading neurorehabilitation hospitals, provides a non-invasive, wearable solution. The MOWOOT device acts as a pacemaker for the large intestine, mobilizing the feces and stimulating proper colonic movement in just 20 minutes a day. This easy-to-use and non-threatening approach offers high clinical response rates and strong patient adherence, without the side effects of conventional treatments.

GM: What stage of fundraising are you currently in, and what types of investors are you hoping to connect with?

MW: Our device is already available in several EU markets, with private & public case-by-case reimbursement secured. We aim for broad public healthcare reimbursement in the UK and Germany by 2025 and are currently raising €10M to support our EU expansion and US market entry in 2026. We are open to discussions with all types of investors, including business angels, family offices, VCs, and strategic corporate investors, as long as we align on deal terms, ticket size and vision.

GM: How has RESI Europe contributed to your fundraising or networking efforts?

MW: RESI Europe provided valuable networking opportunities with investors globally. We had productive meetings during the event as well as on the online platform and are now following up to deepen these conversations.

GM: What was the most valuable aspect of participating in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge?

MW: Winning the IPC validated our investment opportunity and increased our visibility. It helped us reach investors who might have missed us due to packed schedules, creating additional endorsement and exposure.

GM: What kind of feedback did you receive from the judges or investors during the event?

MW: The feedback on our presentation was very positive, with the jury particularly highlighting the clarity of everything regarding technology, regulatory, and clinical evidence. Most of the questions focused on use of funds, market access strategy and details of reimbursement requirements across different regions, which we were able to address during the Q&A. Given the time constraints of the 6-minute pitch, the Q&A provided a valuable opportunity to fill in any gaps.

GM: How does your team plan to build on the momentum from RESI Europe?

MW: We are actively following up with all new contacts and continuing to receive investor inquiries, thanks to our IPC win. Our data room is prepared, and we expect to move into due diligence with several candidates soon.

GM: What’s next for MOWOOT in the coming 6–12 months?

MW: Over the next 6-12 months, our goal is to secure broad public healthcare reimbursement in the UK and Germany, and we anticipate that scaling in these markets will require robust marketing support. Additionally, we are preparing for a new clinical trial designed to meet the specific reimbursement requirements in France and the US, as confirmed in discussions with local authorities. It’s an exciting period ahead, marking the beginning of our scale-up phase!

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How Family Offices Are Cracking the Code on Biotech Investing 

15 Apr

RESI Boston to Feature Global Family Office BioForum Luncheon, June 16, 2025

By Dennis Ford, Founder & CEO, Life Science Nation (LSN)

DF-News-09142022Life Science Nation (LSN) is pleased to announce the Global Family Office BioForum (GFOB) return at RESI Boston June, which will take place on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Westin Copley Place in Boston’s Back Bay. This luncheon, held from 12:00 to 1:00 PM, brings together a curated group of family office investors focused on healthcare and life sciences.

The GFOB luncheon is part of the Redefining Every Stage of Investment (RESI) partnering conference, GFOB creates a private setting where family offices can share strategies, exchange deal flow insights, and explore potential co-investment opportunities in early-stage therapeutics. A public Family Office panel will also be held earlier in the day as part of the broader RESI agenda.

This year’s RESI Boston event will be particularly significant:

  • Over 400 life science investors and licensing partners will attend, each actively seeking new portfolio companies or co-development partners.
  • 50–75 family offices are expected to participate in the conference, creating a powerful opportunity for companies to connect directly with mission-driven capital.
  • A dedicated public Family Office panel will feature five active family office investors, each sharing how they source, vet, and evaluate early-stage biotech and medtech assets for their portfolios.

 Two Keynotes. Two Models. One Mission: Smarter Access to Biotech.

This year’s GFOB Luncheon features two complementary keynote speakers who will share actionable strategies for how family offices can participate in biotech investing without building internal venture teams or becoming scientific experts.

Chris GarabedianChris Garabedian
Founder & CEO, Xontogeny | Portfolio Manager, Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund

Chris Garabedian will offer a playbook for how family offices can confidently invest in early-stage therapeutics by partnering with seasoned operators. At Xontogeny, Chris has created a model that pairs hands-on operational support with strategic early capital, guiding startups from idea to clinical inflection points while minimizing founder dilution and maximizing value creation.

Backed by the Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund, Xontogeny supports biotech, medtech, and healthtech companies with both funding and execution—giving family offices a way to co-invest alongside industry-proven teams and access a pipeline of high-quality, professionally guided ventures.

Rick BerensonRick Berenson
Executive Committee Member, Mass Medical Angels (MA2)

Rick Berenson will present a practical approach for how family offices can assess early-stage biotech without building a whole internal diligence team. As a 15-year leader at Mass Medical Angels (MA2)—a Boston-based life science group made up entirely of industry veterans—Rick has helped refine a model that quantifies risk and potential return by leveraging the “wisdom of an expert crowd.”

He’ll explain how MA2 has used targeted micro-investments to derisk promising projects and turn them into investable biotech companies and how family offices can take advantage of this model to build a capital-efficient, scalable biotech investment pipeline.

RESI: A Smarter Way to Partner

RESI is unique because it enables matches based on stage of development and product type, making it one of the most efficient and results-driven partnering events in the life science industry. Companies come to RESI to be found. Investors and licensing partners come to source assets. The structure, scale, and precision of RESI’s partnering model make it the go-to forum for early-stage innovation and global dealmaking.

The Trump Pharmaceutical Tariffs: Latest Developments 

15 Apr

Sougato-DasThe Trump administration made news yesterday by announcing pharmaceutical (and computer chip) tariffs are imminent, by which most assume mid-May. The stated purpose of the pharma tariffs is simple: move both branded and generic/biosimilar API and biologics manufacturing away from India, Ireland, China, and other countries, and relocate it to the US. Ostensibly, this is in the name of boosting manufacturing in the US, as well as increasing security by ensuring life-saving medicines are domestically produced. In fact, pharmaceuticals are the biggest export from the EU to the US, worth $127B, and for nearly 700 APIs approved in the US, the EU is currently the only supplier. 83% of the top generics in the US have no US source, exposing the US reliance on other countries.

The two strategies pharma companies are choosing between in response to the tariffs, as well as previous moves to curtail Chinese pharma imports, are 1) investing in US manufacturing e.g. Lilly, J&J, Merck and Novo Nordisk 2) not doing anything and waiting for an administration change instead, as setting up major regulated manufacturing operations takes 3-5 years, and could cost 25% more than usual due to steel tariffs.

In the biotech R&D community, the danger is the additional production costs big pharmas incur with either of the above scenario eats into their budgets for R&D, which could lead to less appetite for M&A, licensing, and investors. Additionally, some experts don’t believe tariffs will achieve Trump’s goals, and the way to do so is through tax incentives (deductions, credits and reduced rates for manufacturing), streamlined regulations, availability of low interest financing for manufacturing, and prioritized government procurement. On the consumer side, some experts believe the US will not be able to build a competitive level of manufacturing with India, China or Europe and instead of achieving manufacturing autonomy, the US will instead drive-up costs for patients.

Industry analysts have proposed more speculative scenarios as well, namely that Europe, no longer with a dependable production and R&D partner with the US, will implement the tax, regulatory, financing and procurement incentives mentioned above to boost the EU pharma industry to levels much more competitive with the US. The EFPIA, heading into crisis talks with the EU Commission said as much: “[The EU must] deliver rapid, radical policy change… strengthening… Europe’s intellectual property provisions… achieving a competitive EU market that attracts, values and rewards innovation in line with other economies at the forefront of patient care.”

As the saying goes, the one constant in life is change, and that seems to apply especially to tariffs of late. Early stage companies can reduce their risk by focusing on their cash runway, and leveraging investor partnering tools like RESI and the LSN investor database to accelerate their fundraising.

Meet Boston’s Life Science Leaders: Soft Landing Event and Reception 

15 Apr

By Max Braht, Director of Business Development, LSN

Max-Braht-HeadshotOn June 15th, 2025, Life Science Nation (LSN) will host a special Soft-Landing event in Boston, offering RESI Boston June attendees and other international companies in the city that week, a valuable introduction to one of the world’s most influential life science hubs. Titled “Landing Your Company in the Boston Life Science Ecosystem,” this free, pre-conference event is designed to help companies understand how to successfully establish themselves in the U.S. market by leveraging the resources and connections available in the Boston-Cambridge ecosystem.

Taking place from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at CIC Boston’s Meridian Room on 50 Milk Street, the event will feature insights from experienced leaders and local experts who will share their knowledge about what makes Boston unique, and how early-stage companies can navigate its collaborative, innovation-driven environment.

Following the program, guests are invited to continue the conversation at a networking reception, co-organized with Bene Studio, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Fin Point Oyster Bar + Grille, located at 89 Broad Street, Boston, MA 02110. This relaxed social gathering will offer participants the chance to connect with investors, industry leaders, and fellow innovators.

For international companies looking to enter the U.S. life science market, this event offers a crucial introduction to the opportunities and resources available in the region. From world-class research institutions and hospitals to a dynamic network of venture capital firms, investors, and top-tier talent from nearby universities, the Boston-Cambridge region continues to be a global leader in biotech and healthcare innovation.

RESI Boston attendees and other international companies in town that week are encouraged to take advantage of this exclusive opportunity to build connections and gain firsthand insights into this vibrant, collaborative ecosystem. Space is limited, and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information or to register, click here.

RESI Europe 2025 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge Winners 

8 Apr

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

At RESI Europe 2025, co-organized with Biocat and held at the InterContinental Hotel in Barcelona, 44 emerging companies pitched their technologies in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC), presenting to panels of active investors across biotech, medtech, diagnostics, and digital health. This interactive pitch event continues to be a hallmark of RESI, offering founders valuable exposure and actionable feedback from a curated group of judges representing early-stage investors and strategic partners.

With over 200 investors and 200 startups participating, RESI Europe had representation from over 35 countries spanning 5 continents. Over 3000 meetings took place, with a lot of valuable connections formed and relationships built. The IPC continues to differentiate RESI from other early-stage conferences by connecting companies directly with a coordinated investor panel that delivers both in-depth Q&A and candid guidance. Each participating company receives partnering access, exhibit space in the RESI Exhibition Hall, and the opportunity to build new relationships that could lead to partnerships and funding.

The top three scoring companies from RESI Europe were:

First place: MOWOOT

MOWOOT has developed Intermittent Colonic Exoperistalsis, the first purely physical, non-invasive and non-drg solution for bowel dysfunctions such as constipation. Driven by pneumatic force and individualized to each patient via real-time pressure sensors, a series of soft robotic elements externally stimulates the large intestine, resulting in healthy bowel movements. Clinically proven with over 13 scientific publications, recommended in clinical guidelines in sevral EU countries and IP protected by a series of international patents the ‘MOWOOT Bowel management System” is already on the market.

Second place: DARWIN Biomed

Discover MICHELANGELO, our new generation rolling walker with autonomous walking assistance. It has been designed to provide the complete safety you need to move around freely and get through your day entirely independently. Our innovative active fall prevention system enables MICHELANGELO to detect a loss of natural posture in the user’s body, to act automatically and to correct that posture so as to avoid falls thanks to real-time monitoring of the situation on the ground and the physical conditions of the user. In the end, we aim to deliver three major advantages to our users and their loved ones: 1. Enhanced Safety: Offers stability and dynamic support at all times, encouraging safer and more independent mobility. 2. Frictionless Design: No buttons or levers are required for operation, facilitating the user experience. 3. Connectivity: Allows the user’s activity to be monitored and alerts to be sent in case of emergency.

Third place: Opportunity Health

Opportunity Health is a company dedicated to the development of Opportunity, an innovative medical device designed for automatic and self-applicable de-choking. Its objective is to provide an effective solution to choking emergencies, reducing the risk of death in these cases. We are currently in the development and validation phase, with key collaborations with the University of Navarra and the Santiago de Compostela Health Research Institute (IDIS). In addition, we participate in acceleration programs such as CEIN Health and BerriUp, and we continue to advance in regulatory compliance to obtain the CE marking.

Applications are now open for the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge at RESI Boston this June. Companies interested in pitching to a panel of active investors and showcasing their technology on the exhibit floor can apply now to be considered.

RESI Boston Returns June 16-18: Connect with Top Investors and Life Science Leaders

8 Apr

By Max Braht, Director of Business Development, LSN

Max-Braht-HeadshotLife Science Nation invites you to RESI Boston June, taking place June 16-18 and 23, 2025. The conference kicks off in person at the Westin Copley Place on Monday, June 16, where attendees can take part in face-to-face networking, live investor panels, workshops, and the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge. This will be followed by two days of virtual partnering on June 17-18, 23, allowing participants to continue making valuable connections from anywhere in the world.

The Investor Panels will be held live on June 16 and feature speakers from across the global early-stage investment landscape. Topics include:

Investor Panel Schedule (EDT – June 16)

Time (EDT) Investor Panels
9:00 Beyond Big Pharma
Partnering Early to Foster Innovation
10:00 Aging and Longevity
Investing for Healthier Lifespans
11:00 Health System Partners
Novel Partnering Approaches to Improve Quality of Care
13:00 AI in Healthcare
Investing in the Intersection of Life Sciences and Technology
14:00 Beyond Venture Capital
Funding Opportunities for Early-Stage Companies
15:00 CNS Diseases
Latest Innovations and Investment Trends
16:00 Medical Devices
Latest Trends in Medtech Investments

These panels offer direct insight from investors and strategic partners actively funding early-stage innovation in biotech, medtech, diagnostics, and digital health.

Super Early Bird Discount Ends April 11
Register by April 11 to save $300 on your RESI Boston pass, or bundle with RESI September to save $1,000 on both events. Don’t miss your chance to join the global early-stage community and build your investor network.

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